Manuka honey - it's amazing stuff!

[dinny]

Thought I'd share this with you. It cured dd's molloscum in two weeks flat (the cream)and I recently sent a pot of the edible strong stuff to dh's grandmother, who had a leg wound that just wouldn't heal. She's been eating three teaspoons a day for nearly three weeks and guess what?! Leg is completely healed. Thoroughly recommend it!

[Serah]

I have heard about this stuff too Dinny. It is supposed to be incredible. Where did you get your jar from and how much did it cost?

[MrsDoolittle]

Hi Ladies. Manuka honey is the same as tea tree.
The only difference between this and other honey is that it has a broader spectrum of antibacterial qualities.
Studies have shown that this is more effective when it is used topically i'e' it would have been far more effective had it been spread on the leg wound.
There is no evidence that it is anymore effective when it is eaten.
The fact is, most of us know that manuka honey is good for you and we might be ware of it's broad spectrum anti bacterial qualities. However, most of us don't know it's true effectiveness and unfortunately many people are being spending alot of money unneccesarily.
I hope this helps. I'll see if I can find a reference.

[MrsDoolittle]

here

[MrsDoolittle]

See limitations for it's use

[Marina]

Thanks for that MrsD. I am trying to boost the children's immune systems this winter and using Manuka honey as the on-toast treat (I don't think anyone has produced a study demonstrating that Green & Black's Organic Chocolate Hazelnut spread is anything other than delicious but calorific).
Serah, you can get Medibee in various strengths from Holland and Barrett. The + 15 is eye-wateringly expensive though. We use + 5.

[ruty]

can my 14 month old ds have it? Can i take it whilst breastfeeding? I know under ones can't have it but not sure about anything else.

[MrsDoolittle]

Re-read the limitations piece in the second link.
It has limited qualities when taken orally.


The Waikato is a huge research centre in New Zealand. They know all there is about Manuka Honey

[Serah]

Wow.. Mrs Doolittle - you must be a microbiologist! Thanks for the links - really interesting.

Sounds like you would be best off wiping the toast over your children rather than letting them eat it Marina!!

That said, when I used to smoke I used to get horrific chest infections every winter - I eventually found that drinking copious amounts of honey and lemon at the onset would generally ward them off. I'm not sure how it worked, but it did - probably the vitamin C in the lemons!

[MrsDoolittle]

Not quite Serah But I take it as a compliment!!

[Enid]

it got rid of my cough

[Marina]

That definitely rules out G & B then Serah!
Point taken MrsD, thanks for posting those studies.
It is yum though and so different in texture from commercial processed honey...

[Serah]

I don't think you have to wipe chocolate spread on kids in any case do you Marina? Don't they specialise in doing that themselves???

[Marina]

See my post on toddlernet Serah

[MrsDoolittle]

Enid was your cough in your throat or chesty. I'm interested to know if it could have been it's topical properties or whether you think it was sytemic?

[Marina]

I wondered about the topical issue too MrsD - best for tonsillitis etc perhaps?

[geekgrrl]

this is really interesting, do tell, Enid. Dd2 has chronic chest infections (very deep in her lungs, her throat is fine) and has to be on antibiotics all winter to keep her chest reasonably healthy - would love to find a cure.

[MrsDoolittle]

Well that's it Marina! I'm prone to laryngitis and tonsilitis myself.

[gloworm]

another vote here for manuka honey...its fantastic. we all take it at the first sign of a cold/sore throat/cough/tummy bug. we eat from the spoon, on toast, in tea, in porridge
usually use the 5+, as the others are too expensive (although we did splash out for the 10+ when we all caught a really bad cold/flu thing last month). we own a health shop and have had great reports back from customers.

[MrsDoolittle]

Uhmm!

[geekgrrl]

gloworm, how much is it for the 10+? How much do you need to take?

[gloworm]

i'm in ireland so prices different here (usually more expensive here due to transport costs etc, anyway I digress!)
Medibee 10+ (a good brand) costs around €20 for 500g (around £14)
and €13.50 (around £9) for 500g of the 5+ strength.

[gloworm]

1 teaspoon, 3 times a day.

(although we tend to use it 5 or 6 times a day if we have a cold etc)

[Serah]

In respect of the cough that Enid takes her honey for, I took it with lemon for really chesty coughs. I think my cure is systemic - partly due to the dose of vitamin C. I don't think it acted topically as being a chesty cough it couldn't have touched my lungs (or did I seriously not pay attention in biology??? )

[Enid]

I drank it in hot water and also in hot milk at night, also ate it and tried to swallow very slowly so it stayed around my throat asap.

I am also putting it in desperation on my horrible excema which has flared up on my face , second day so far, I will report back!

[Enid]

it was a tickly cough but with 'stuff' too - sorry if TMI